Weekend Adventures in Bradenton: October 5-7

BRADENTON – Get warmed up for the Bradenton Blues Festival this weekend as Blues in the Village rolls into Village of the Arts, as part of the monthly ArtWalk festivities. There are all kinds of high school football games this weekend and the annual comic festival returns to the Manatee County Central Library. Get on your feet and get moving, it's time for another Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!

It might be an ugly weekend on the Grid Iron with several mismatches on tap. Palmetto will come over the bridge to take on a one-win Bayshore squad, armed with star RB Josh Hicks, who returned for 278 yards rushing and three TD's in last week's victory. The Hurricanes will blow into Braden River to take on the winless Pirates, while Southeast goes on the road to take on a tough DeSoto team, after giving up 52 points to the 'Canes last week.

High School Football: Friday 7:30 p.m.

Palmetto @ Bayshore
Manatee @ Braden River Pirates
Lakewood Ranch Mustangs @ Tarpon Springs
Southeast @ DeSoto
Moore Haven @ St Stephen's

Blues in the Village will kick off the downtown Bradenton Riverwalk celebrations, while getting you warmed up for the upcoming Bradenton Blues Festival, in the Village of the Arts this weekend. Across the residential/commercial arts community, The Village: Magazine of the Arts, the region's only locally owned niche-arts publication, brings you Blues in The Village, where eight local bands will be playing at various galleries and houses, part of this weekend's ArtWalk. 

Music starts at 6:30 p.m. and goes till at least 9:30 p.m. on Friday night. Enjoy these local musical acts: A Gentleman’s Army; Elephant in the Room; Funky Blues Band/Karen Klosky & Friends; Group W; Larry Clark; Studio Kitchen; The Huntsmen and The Joyful Studios. After enjoying the bands, head into the galleries for a River of Art in Blue. A blue colored and blues themed exhibition at many of the Village galleries.

Go to www.thevillagemagazine.net/bluesinthevillage for info on the bands, where and when they will be playing. And head to www.villageofthearts.com for information on a River of Art in Blue.

If you're in the Village Friday night, be sure and stop by our favorite eatery, Sweets Bakehouse (930 12th St. West, Bradenton). On the first Friday of each month, during ArtWalk, Sweets hosts a delicious buffet consisting of some of the best made-from-scratch, locally-sourced southern home-cooking you'll find anywhere. Best of all, it's only $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

If you can't make their Friday night buffet, stop by for their delectable Sunday champagne brunch, this or any Sunday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., or for lunch Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Before you leave, be sure to grab something out of their bakery case, some of the best gourmet treats in the area, all at exceptionally reasonable prices.

The ManaCon Comic Festival for teens returns to the Manatee Central Library this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Central Library, this fun-filled family event will feature free comics, prizes every hour, and a contest for the best comic costume.

There will also be workshops and clinics to hone kids' comic skills, origami, a doodle booth, a student art show and face painting. Kids can even compete in a comic contest to win an Ipod Touch! The event is free, so get there early and make a day of it.

ManaCon Comic Festival
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Manatee Central Library
1301 Barcarrota Boulevard West
Bradenton